Beijing Announces Car Ban for Olympics

In their efforts to improve air quality levels, Beijing officials have announced plans to enforce car restrictions during the Olympics. From AFP:

Beijing authorities will definitely go ahead with a ban on some cars during the Olympics to help ease pollution during the Games, a city official was quoted in the state press saying Friday.

“Automobiles, excluding taxis, buses and emergency vehicles, are to stay off roads every other day in accordance with the even and odd numbers on the licence plates,” Xinhua news agency quoted vice-mayor Ji Lin as saying.

“The ban is aimed to ensure air quality during the sport events in Beijing.”